Verizon's Steve Clementi Selected to Attend U.S. Chamber Business LEADs Seminar in Washington, D.C.

RICHMOND, Va. - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for a Competitive Workforce has selected Stephan F. Clementi, director of external affairs for Verizon Virginia, to attend the Business LEADs Institute, a three-day seminar in Washington, D.C., from July 13 - 15. 

Selected for his leadership in the community, Clementi will join 36 other business leaders from around the nation to learn how the business community can utilize its assets to drive positive transformation in education and workforce training in communities across America. 

"Educating and training Americans for the jobs of the 21st century is essential to long-term economic growth in this country," said Arthur J. Rothkopf, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  "This program will allow the business community to play an active role in improving student success and the United States' ability to compete globally."

The seminar, part of a $2.6 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,  is the first of five Business LEADs Institutes, which will develop and train a network of business leaders on education issues, network organization, and communications to empower the leaders to be effective advocates for improving America's education system.

"Steve Clementi has proven to be deeply committed to the success of his community and its citizens," said Rothkopf.  "The Business LEADs program will provide leaders like Steve with the knowledge and resources to help prepare the next generation of young people for a rapidly changing world." 

The Institute for a Competitive Workforce (ICW) is the nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  ICW promotes the rigorous educational standards and effective job-training systems needed to preserve the strength of America's greatest economic resource - its workforce.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 86 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 237,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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